NEET Update: NCAHP Confirms NEET as Eligibility Criteria for Allied & Healthcare

As​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ per an announcement made by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will be compulsory for the admission of undergraduates in allied and healthcare courses from the academic year 2026-27 onwards. This change indicates a major transformation in the way admissions are done, which leads to the fact that students willing to study subjects such as physiotherapy, optometry, nutrition or any other allied field have to clear NEET Exam. The decision to do so is intended to level the playing field in the selection of candidates and to ensure that those chosen are the most deserving ones in accordance with the healthcare education ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌system.

Major Announcement by NCAHP

• Direct​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Admissions Discontinued: Starting from the academic year 2026-27, students will not be able to obtain seats in allied and healthcare courses without the NEET qualification.

• NEET UG 2026 Exam Date: The exam is planned to be held on 3rd May 2026 (tentative).

• Courses Affected: The courses include subjects such as Physiotherapy, Optometry, Nutrition & Dietetics, Dialysis Technology, Occupational Therapy and other allied programmes.

• Curricula Notified: The NCAHP has already defined 13 undergraduate and postgraduate curricula that consider NEET as a compulsory ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌requirement.

Why does this Change Matter?

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ National Commission for Allied and Health Professions Act, 2021, has given the power to the commission to regulate admissions and curricula of allied and healthcare professions. This results in:

• Admission Uniformity: NEET will be the single point of entry and hence, selection will be based on merit only. 

• Better Regulation: A common eligibility system will be established for those programs which have been outside the scope of the medical and nursing councils.

• Higher Reliability: Integration of allied healthcare with NEET makes the healthcare profession more appealing and trustworthy.

Courses Under NCAHP Requiring NEET (From 2026-27)

Impact on Students

• Additional Preparation: Candidates wanting to take up a career in the healthcare sector must also sit for the NEET examination which is mainly for medical students.

• Equal Opportunities: It only allows candidates who have good academic backgrounds to be admitted into these vital healthcare fields.

• Transparency in Career: NEET score will be used for admission making it easier and less confusing for ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌students.

Official Statement

According to NCAHP’s press release: “In continuation to this office letter of even number dated 19.11.2025 on the subject noted above, it is clarified that the students aspiring for admission to Allied and Healthcare professional courses after passing of senior secondary level equivalent exam, in some of the undergraduate Allied and Healthcare courses, NEET appearance requires as a basic eligibility criterion along with other eligibility criteria. The course-specific eligibility may be confirmed from the Commission’s website.”

What’s Next?

The first batch to appear in the entrance exam in 2026-27 will be students who want to do MBBS, BDS and also allied and healthcare courses of the NCAHP. The students who are dreaming of a career in physiotherapy, optometry, nutrition or any other allied field need to understand that from now on, they should be preparing for the NEET exam if they want to get ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌admission. This is a landmark moment for healthcare in the education system. India, through the merger of allied and healthcare admissions along with NEET, is set to:

• Increase the standard of healthcare aspirants.

• Make sure that the admissions in the allied fields are done on a merit basis only.

• Offer a single exam at the national level for different streams of healthcare.